dow, and be rich. Take Louie, and be happy. There you have
it. There are three for you. As for Miss O'Halloran, she has passed
away from you forever. I have snatched her from death, and she is mine
forever."

"She shall never be yours!" cried Jack, furiously.

"She shall be mine!" cried I, in wrathful tones.

"Never! never!" cried Jack. "She's mine, and she shall be mine."

"Damn it, man! are you crazy? How many wives do you propose to have?"

"She shall be mine!" cried Jack. "She, and no other. I give up all
others. They may all go and be hanged. She, and she alone, shall be
mine."

Saying this, he strode toward the door, opened it, passed through, and
banged it behind him. I heard his heavy footsteps as he went off, and I
stood glaring after him, all my soul on fire with indignation.

CHAPTER XXIII.

A FRIEND BECOMES AN ENEMY.--MEDITATIONS ON THE ANCIENT AND VENERABLE
FABLE OF THE DOG IN THE MANGER.--THE CORRUPTION OF THE HUMAN HEART.
--CONSIDERATION OF THE WHOLE SITUATION.--ATTEMPTS TO COUNTERMINE JACK,
AND FINAL RESOLVE.

So Jack left, and so I stood staring after him in furious indignation.

"By Jove!" I exclaimed, addressing my own honorable self, "are you
going to stand that sort of thing, Macrorie? And at your time of life,
my boy! You, twenty-two years of age, six feet high, and with your
knowledge of the world! You're not altogether an ass, are you? I think
I can depend on you, my boy. You'll stand up for your rights. She's
yours, old chap. Cling to her. Remember your ancestors. You'll get her,
and if Jack chooses to make a fool of himself, let him!"

After this expression of opinion, I replaced my last pipe and tumbler,
and resumed my seat. Over my head the clouds rolled; through my brain
penetrated the gentle influence, bringing tranquillity and peace;
bringing also wisdom, and the power of planning and of resolving.

My reflections made me feel that Nora mast be mine. She seemed dearer
than all the world, and all that. Hadn't I saved her life? I had. Then
that life was mine. No one else had such a claim on her as I had.
Jack's absurd pretence at a claim was all confounded stuff and
nonsense. I considered his attitude on this occasion a piece of the
worst kind of selfishness, not to speak of its utter madness. The dog
in the manger was nothing to this. I was not the man to let myself be
pushed aside in this way. He would not have thought of her if I had not
put in my claim. Before tha